Nogueira: Appearance on Brazilian ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Doesn’t Interfere With Training

Antonio
Rodrigo Nogueira made his debut in the Brazilian version of
“Dancing with the Stars” -- known as Danca dos Famosos, or “Dance
of the Famous” -- on Sunday.

The program was broadcast on the popular Rede Globo TV show
Domingão do Faustão. Although he hasn't shown much "swaying," the
former
Pride and
UFC champion showed great will and surprised viewers and judges
alike in qualifying for the next round.

“Minotauro” competed against six other males in the opening phase.
In the second round, Nogueira will attempt to impress the judges
while dancing with a female partner. The fighter admitted to
battling nerves shortly after his first dance concluded.

"It's much harder than fighting. When I get home I'm all broken,"
Nogueira said.

Nogueira is scheduled to face Frenchman Cheick Kongo
at UFC
149 on July 21 in Calgary. The Brazilian has not fought since
December, when his arm was broken by a brutal kimura from Frank Mir at
UFC
140.

Nogueira recently told PVT that he has been able to balance evening
MMA training and morning dance classes without issue.

"My priority is my workout. Certainly I have to train for this
program once or twice a week,” he said. “I train to fight five
hours a day, then I have 19 hours left over for me to rest, sleep
and do other activities. I have hobbies like kite surfing and going
to the beach with my dog, so I have to cut something out to train
and participate in the [Dancing with the Stars] program.”